Baker to celebrate Mulvane Hall’s renovation, expansion with open house

Baker University will host a celebration and open house at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 5, to dedicate the $10.3 million Ivan L. Boyd Center for Collaborative Science Education, the largest capital project in the history of Kansas’ first university.

A renovated Mulvane Hall, the 9,000-square-foot addition of the Ross and Christine Hartley Hall and a relocated greenhouse form the Boyd Center, which houses classrooms and labs for biology, chemistry, mathematics, physics and information technology.

“The entire Baker University family can take tremendous pride in the transformation project funded entirely by private donations,” Baker President Pat Long said. “Our generous alumni, friends and trustees have contributed to the magnificent facility that will serve the next generation of Baker’s talented students. The opening of the Boyd Center is a remarkable accomplishment, but our work is not done. We must continue to invest in providing first-class science education.”

An anonymous $3.5 million gift, announced at the groundbreaking on Oct. 7, 2011, was the keystone contribution to the project. The donor issued $2.5 million as a challenge gift and requested that the complex be named after Ivan L. Boyd, a science professor and chairman of Baker’s biology department from 1941 to 1972 who continued to teach as an emeritus faculty member until his death in 1982. Also, Ross Hartley, a 1970 Baker graduate, and his wife, Christine, contributed a $1.6 million gift to create the Ross and Christine Hartley Hall portion of the Boyd Center.

“The two major gifts energized the university to move forward with our fundraising efforts, inspiring others to support the worthwhile project,” Long said. “We are grateful for the generous gifts of all sizes. Hearing more about the compelling stories behind our donors’ reasons for giving has been extremely gratifying.”

The J.E. and L.E. Mabee Foundation also contributed a $750,000 challenge grant, the largest gift Baker has received from a foundation.

“The challenge grant came at a pivotal time in our capital campaign,” Long said. “Baker values its long tradition of receiving support from the Mabee Foundation as we continue to provide a quality education for our students.”

For more information on the dedication and ribbon cutting, contact Patrick Mikesic, senior director for university advancement, at (800) 726-1554.